V&T Motorcar #99

Martin Hansen Collection

In the early 20th century this little motorcar ran on the Virginia & Truckee Railroad as a way of saving the cost of running an entire steam locomotive. It mostly ran weekday trips to the Comstock, saving the steam engine for the weekends only. This car, #99, came from the Tonopah and Goldfield Railroad. Here it is parked in the V&T enginehouse in Carson City, next to steam locomotives #20 "Tahoe" and #11, "Reno".

Date Uploaded: June 7, 2026

Permanent Link: http://wnhpc.com/details/fb27081064051485158

Contributor: Martin Hansen on Facebook

Source: Facebook: Martin Hansen

Source URL: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=27081064051485158&set=gm.755703640842454&idorvanity=188010054278485

Source Caption: Many steam roundhouses were famous for just exactly what type of motive power was lurking deep in their bowels. One of the more fascinating was that of the fabled Virginia & Truckee in Carson City, Nevada. The "Great Stone Fort" as the roundhouse was known as, held many fascinating types of motive power over the years.

The date is August 5, 1937 and Ted Wurm and a Friend have gained access to the V&T shops with their cameras to check out the rail equipment inside. In amongst the cap-stacked high-drivered steam pots of yesteryear they find some contraptions that are of a more modern era.

Posing for photos inside V&T railcar #99 seemed to be the practical thing to do since it had just arrived back from it's daily run to Virginia City. While she cools her heels in the dark shop building the tripods are set up and the cameras click away.

Just over her shoulder however, are the locomotives that are the true steam power for the line for which it has become famous.

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